Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Creative Process

By Laura P. Valtorta

As I begin writing a sequel to Carmen’s Universe – my novel about the future – I contemplate the pathway from idea to finished product. How does it happen for me? Some people read the newspaper for inspiration. I look inward and outward, at my neighbors, and in my shoe closet.

Step One – the Conflict. I have a complaint about my body, and it’s driving me crazy. My feet are too big. (Substitute butt, stomach, nose, ears, teeth, or whatever might bother a woman or man trapped inside the Merry Homemaker/Gold’s culture of the United States). Paranoia sets in. The shoe salesmen are laughing at me. The Gold’s Tiffanies are talking about me.

Some men might fret about a body part being too small. Women have the opposite problem.

Step Two—Solution. I create a fierce female character with large feet. She is 6 feet tall, Chinese and African, and she plays a musical instrument. The world is against her because of her feet, or so she believes. She gets fired from her job. Is it because of her feet or her attitude? She moves away from the city and forms her own orchestra. She falls in love with a suave attorney. She learns something about herself.

A novel is born.

Published books by Laura P. Valtorta:Family Meal, published in 1993, Carolina Wren PressStart Your Own Law Practice, published in 2006, Entrepreneur PressSocial Security Disability Practice, published in 2009, updated yearly, Knowles PublishingCavi -- a Novel about Italy, available as a PDF download at www.infinite- monkeys-pub.com

CONTACT US

For more information about the Columbia II Writers' Workshop, a chapter of the South Carolina Writers Association, contact Ginny Padgett at ginnypadgett@att.net.

CALENDAR

Workshop - Monday, December 18 at 5:30

Workshop - TUESDAY, January 2 at 5:30

Workshop - Monday, January 15 at 5:30

WHO WE ARE

We are a diverse group of people who work in diverse genres. Our group embraces all levels of writers. We're a chapter of South Carolina Writers Association (www.myscwa.org) and comply with the organization's by-laws. We are grateful to Turning Pages, Greater Columbia Literacy Councilfor providing us meeting space.

HOW WE WORKSHOP

Bring about 12 copies of the work you want critiqued -- stories, poems, nonfiction (or come just to listen and critique).

Keep prose to 6 pages double-spaced,12 pt. type; up to 2 poems.

Read your work out loud.

Listen silently while members of the group make comments, ask questions, offer critique, mark up copies of your work.

After everyone's critique, you can answer the questions and ask some of your own.

Everyone hands you back their marked up copies.

It's up to you to decide which, if any, suggestions or revisions you adopt.

Visitors are welcome. Just show up and find an empty seat.

We ask that on your first visit you not read, but you are invited to fully participate in e very other way.

JOIN US

We meet in the offices ofGreater Columbia Literacy Councilin the lower level of